Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 1, 1993 TAG: 9302010003
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ra Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FOR DEER, ROADS TAKING A HIGHER TOLL
Q: How many deer were killed on Virginia highways in 1992? N.N.A: Enough to give us pause when driving by the woods on a fall evening.
Figures aren't complete, but they're worth thinking about.
Upward of 4,000 deer carcasses were picked up by highway crews in the 12 counties of the Salem district in 1992, according to a preliminary count by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Bedford County alone had more than 1,000.
Hunters in those 12 counties, by comparison, took 33,000 deer.
There's a rising trend here. Our driving mileage goes up each year. So does the deer population.
"This problem is going to get worse," especially in suburban areas where people are moving into the deer habitat and hunting is not allowed, said Matt Knox, a deer expert with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Knox had some tips for drivers: Chances of hitting a deer are highest in the fall and in the first two hours after dusk. If you're driving near woods or open areas at these times, 35 mph makes sense.
Here's why. "Official" statewide data from 1991 showed 1,942 deer-vehicle collisions, with 231 people injured, two killed, and a whopping $3.27 million in property damage. The previous four years were worse.
Knox says a lot more collisions probably went unreported because damage was not serious - an estimation supported by the number of dead deer picked up by highway crews in the Salem district.
Knox added another suggestion: If a deer's in your headlights, brake without skidding. Never swerve. It's better to hit the deer than lose a human life.
Boucher update
Rep. Rick Boucher, who's moving up in seniority, moved into a new office in January. Last week I listed his old address.
This one's closer to the committee rooms, which is handy because Boucher is chairman of the science subcommittee of Science, Space and Technology.
Send mail to: Rep. Rick Boucher, 2245 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. The phone's still (202) 225-3861.
Road mileage starts here
Q: When a highway sign says it's 50 miles to the next city, exactly what point in that city do they mean? It certainly isn't the city limits. R.L., Roanoke
A: Usually it's the courthouse or city hall.
The state Department of Transportation's policy is to measure from a major intersection closest to a major government building or well-known landmark.
In Salem, that's Main and College streets, at the courthouse.
In Roanoke, it's Orange Avenue and Williamson Road, where the civic center is the landmark.
What's a dew point?
Q: When they give the dew point in the weather report, I know what it means but why does it really matter? C.D., Roanoke County
A: Beyond leaving our windshields frosty or wet, the dew point matters in aviation.
Air density depends in part on the dew point. Pilots use it to figure how much lift they can expect at takeoff, and how much runway they'll need.
Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.